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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
  (+225 +229 +234 +27 +31 +32 +34 +44 other)
• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • "claims office" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
  • ",000,000" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
• This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
  
  1. They don't notify winners by email.
  2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
  3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
  4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
  5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
  6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
  7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!
• This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
  • +34696071389 (Spain, prepaid mobile phone)
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • luisramoneurolottery@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: Dr.Maria Ruiz <spanisheumillion@myway.com>
Reply-To: luisramoneurolottery@yahoo.com
Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2007 17:11:36 +0200
Subject: OFFICIAL WINNING NOTIFICATION


THE EURO LOTTERY PRIMITIVAL AWARD RESULT NOTIFICATION.
PROMOTIONS PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT.
REF NO:YWS/65711
BATCH NO:62628MF

Dear Winner,

This is to inform you of the release of the EURO LOTTERY PRIMITIVAL =
INTERNATIONAL/ WORLD GAMING BOARD held on the 31st- May -2007.
Due to the mix up of numbers, the results were released on the 7th of June, =
2007. Your e-mail address attached to ticket number: 004725194071 with serial =
number YWS/705062530103 with lucky main numbers 12-23-57-63-70-drew lucky =
star numbers 09-06.Subsequently won you the lottery in the 3rd category i.e. =
Thunder ball Jackpot.
You have therefore been approved for a lump sum payout of Euro 2,500.000.00 =
(two million, five hundred thousands euro only).
Due to mix up of some numbers and names, we ask that you keep your
winning information confidential until your claim has been processed and your =
money remitted to you. This is part of our security protocol to avoid double =
claiming and unwarranted abuse of this program by some participants.
All participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from =
only Microsoft users from over 40,000.00 companies and 6,000,000 individual =
email addresses and names from all over the world.
To collect your prize winner, please contact your Fiduciary Agent
below that has been assigned for the processing of your claims with the email =
address below: Our European agent will immediately commence the process to =
facilitate the release of our funds as soon as you contact him.
Fiduciary Agent: Mr Luis Ramon.
Phone: +34 696 071 389
Email:luisramoneurolottery@yahoo.com
Kindly provide him with Claims Requirements Below:
Name:______________________________________
Address: __________________________________
Nationality:_______________________________
Age: _______________________________________
Occupation: _______________________________
Phone/Fax: _______________________________
Present Country: _____________________________
Marital Status: _____________________________
Gender: _____________________________________
Amount Won: _____________________________
Date of Notification_______________________
Winning Email: _________________________________
Ref No: ______________________________
Batch No: ____________________________
All winning must be claimed not later than 30 days of receiving this =
Notification.After this date all unclaimed, funds will be included in the =
next stake.
Please note in order to avoid unnecessary delays and complications, kindly =
remember to quote your REF NUMBER and BATCH NUMBER in all correspondence to =
our claims Officer.
Furthermore, should there be any change of address do inform our
Claims Officer as soon as possible.
Anybody under the age of 18 is automatically disqualified.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Maria Ruiz (Lottery co-ordinator ).
For: Euro millions lottery program.
You may wish to establish contact via e-mail with the particulars
presented below citing the batch and reference numbers to this letter between =
the hours of 8.00am - 6.00pm on Monday through Saturday.
Our winners are assured of the utmost standards of Confidentiality, and press =
anonymity until the end of proceedings, and beyond where they so desire.
This is part of our precautionary measure to avoid double claiming and =
unwarranted abuse of this program.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam